Useful for prognostic evaluation in horses with colic syndrome
Colic syndrome affects approximately 4 out of 100 horses annually, making it one of the most common equine emergencies. Early identification of cases needing surgery or monitoring is crucial for improving outcomes and reducing complications.
Serum Amyloid A (SAA): A Key Marker of inflammation
SAA concentration increases rapidly during inflammation and has a short half-life, making it ideal for monitoring the response to treatment.
A recently published white paper highlights that SAA is a crucial marker for assessing prognoses in horses with colic syndrome.
Materials and Methods
Between July 2022 and February 2023, a total of 32 adult horses diagnosed with colic syndrome (without other comorbidities) were treated in the northern region of Paraná State by a veterinary assistance company. Initial care was provided in the field, and when necessary, the horses were
referred to a veterinary hospital associated with the team. The following data were collected from medical records: diagnosis, type of treatment (medical or surgical), and outcome (discharge or death). Plasma samples were collected at the time of initial care (Figure 1A) and subsequently frozen for later analysis of SAA concentrations. For the analysis, species-specific kits (Vcheck Equine SAA) were used, employing a quantitative fluorescent immunoassay technique. Readings were conducted using the Bionote V200 device (Figure 1B, Eco Diagnóstica), with a measurement range between 10 and 1,000 mg/L. The results obtained were tabulated and statistically compared by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis when there was no normality, using
the SigmaStat program.
Results
Of the 32 horses treated during the study period, 25 received medical treatment (24 discharges; 1 death), and seven underwent surgery (4 discharges; 3 deaths). The mean SAA concentration at the time of initial care was higher in horses that underwent surgery (369.57 ± 454.10 mg/L) compared to those treated medically (80.64 ± 154.70 mg/L), although this difference was not
statistically significant (p=0.06). When comparing the outcomes of the studied horses, a significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in the SAA concentrations, with higher values in horses that died (409.25 ± 467.80 mg/L) and lower values in those with a favorable resolution of colic (105.92 ± 218.55 mg/L). The four animals that died had the following diagnoses: small colon impaction, small intestine volvulus, cecum impaction, and large colon impaction with rupture and right displacement of the large colon.
Conclusion
Based on the initial results, it can be concluded that measuring SAA serves as a highly valuable tool for managing horses with colic syndrome. It provides critical information that facilitates faster and more efficient decision-making, even during in field assessments. Future studies will explore the correlation between SAA concentrations and the affected gastrointestinal segments,
as well as their relationships with other blood parameters.